A career as an emergency medical technician can be challenging, as well as gratifying for the right candidate. If you are interested in pursuing this, you must be 18 years of age, have a high school diploma, and complete rigorous training and coursework. EMT classes are not to be taken lightly. At some point in the future, you will have someone’s life in your hands. You must become familiar with medicine, life-saving techniques, and complicated equipment. Most of this will be covered in EMT classes before any hands-on training begins.

There are 3 levels of EMT: EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic.

The EMT course is typically offered by a community college, vocational school, or medical facility. These EMT classes usually take 180 hours to complete, but this may vary by state. During class, you will learn: how to asses a victim’s condition, basic CPR methods, bandage adhering, stipulations dealing with blood loss, common injury practices, and primary responder treatment. Once you complete the course, you will be required to take a practical and written exam. You may then apply for certification.

The next level of EMT certification is Advanced EMT. During these classes, you will be taught a more thorough understanding of emergency medical techniques than in the EMT class. Topics covered are IV administration, airway support methods, defibrillator usage, and the administration of certain medications to victims while in a moving vehicle.

At the third, or Paramedic level, classes will cover the most comprehensive information regarding emergency medicine. Topics in class will include anatomy, physiology, and highly advance life-saving techniques. Potential Paramedics will be taught how to use complicated medical equipment and go through on-the-job training. Depending on the state in which you reside (or the state in which you want to become an EMT), classes may take up to 2 years to complete. After successful completion of Paramedic classes, you will be able to take written and physical examinations to determine whether or not you are qualified to become an emergency medical technician at the most advanced level.